Channel 4 sales plan denounced by UK TV industry, politicians and the public

High-profile politicians and members of the media have criticized the UK government’s decision to proceed with privatization. არის it’s a shame Aired on Canale 4, the petition to stop the process is approaching 35,000 signatures.

It was revealed yesterday that Conservative government ministers were planning to sell a public but commercially funded broadcaster. We expect to raise around £ 1 billion ($ 1.3 billion) from the deal, ITV, Discovery and Sky are all linked.

The government’s plan comes despite strong opposition from the UK manufacturing industry, which is greatly bolstered by Channel 4’s business model, which does not own the content it orders.

Several high-level creatives have now turned to social media and demanded that the process be completed.

the Often AND veterinarian Developer Armando Yanucci criticized the government for ignoring the results of the sales consultation, writing on Twitter: “They called for a ‘debate’; 90% of the participants in this debate said it was a bad idea. But they are still moving forward. Why do they want to make the British TV industry worse? Why? It has no commercial, economic or even patriotic significance. “

Matt Lucas, co-host of Channel 4’s biggest show Cooking in the UKHe was one of the 35,000 people who signed the petition to suspend the privatization process.

He wrote on Twitter: “C4 is publicly owned, self-financed and it won’t cost you anything. All profits go directly to programming. Wrong government decision ”.

The government claims Channel 4 will be increasingly vulnerable to streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon if it is not privatized and that the new owner will be able to provide it with capital to compete.

However, Lucy Powell, a Labor MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, said the sales process is more likely to see Streamer buy Channel 4 and end up with fewer opportunities for the numerous small companies. manufacturing companies that currently supply most of them. Your programming

Powell and others, including the Liberal Democrats, called the plan “cultural hooliganism” and Ruth Davidson, a former leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, warned it would harm the independent manufacturing sector.

“Channel 4 is publicly owned and not publicly funded. “It doesn’t cost the taxpayer a dime,” he tweeted. “Also, according to the letter, it gives content to commissions, but does not create / own assets. This is one of the reasons we have such a thriving indie. [sic] Sector in places like Glasgow.

He added that this was “the opposite of the Levellers,” an often cited reference to conservative politics.

Channel 4 released a statement saying it was disappointed that the government had released the statement “without formally acknowledging” a serious public interest concern. He added that he was “involved in good faith” during a consultation process with the government that began last year and which showed the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) how he could continue to work with the government. its current model.

Canale 4 also revealed that it has offered an alternative to privatization, but has not yet expanded what it includes.

“Recently, Channel 4 presented DCMS with a real alternative to privatization that would protect its future financial stability, allowing it to do much more. “For British society, the creative industries and the economy, especially outside of London,” he added. “This is particularly important as the organization has made a significant commitment in just two years to strengthen its influence in the nations and regions of the UK.”

The government will now begin drafting a bill to be presented and discussed in parliament before the final vote on the measure.